Popular actor Manobala was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai recently for angio-treatment and is on the road to recovery. A photo of the veteran actor, who has also directed and produced a few films over the course of his career, is doing the rounds on social media and shows him lying in his bed at the Apollo Hospital, with South Indian Artistes Association Vice-President Poochi Murugan paying him a visit. Manobala is seen looking as excited as ever during his chat with Poochi Murugan and is expected to be discharged from the hospital soon.
Manobala's last major big-screen appearance was in the recently-released Telugu action comedy film, Waltair Veerayya, starring 'Megastar' Chiranjeevi. Having made a name for himself as an actor, the Tamil cinema veteran had initially started out as an assistant to legendary filmmaker Bharathirajaa, before turning to film direction in 1982 with Agaya Gangai. Since then, he has directed several notable films that include Pillai Nila, Vetri Padigal, Mallu Vetti Minor, and Moondrezhuthil En Moochirukkum, to name a notable few. Manobala also holds the distinction of having directed 'Nadigar Thilagam' Sivaji Ganesan in Paarambariyam (1993) and 'Superstar' Rajinikanth in Oorkavalan (1987).
Having made a name for himself as an actor and filmmaker, Manobala also turned to film production and hit the bulls-eye as a producer with the 2014 heist film, Sathuranga Vettai, which also marked the debut of director H. Vinoth. Manobala became a popular character artiste in films and appeared in comedy roles, especially in films like Sethu, Pithamagan, Chandramukhi, Polladhavan, Yaaradi Nee Mohini, Thamizh Padam, including the blockbuster Aranmanai franchise.